From Hariss Harun to Khairin Nadim - Meet Singapore Premier League's youngest debutants

With the Young Lions’ 15-year-old sensation Khairin Nadim becoming the Singapore Premier League’s youngest player ever when he came on against Hougang United on Sunday, the time seems ripe to flip through the annals of the league’s 25-year history.

Who are the youngest debutants ever and how have their careers since panned out?

5. Farhan Zulkifli (16 years, 231 days)

First up on the list is Hougang United’s hugely talented Farhan Zulkifli. It’s been a whirlwind of a season for young Farhan, who despite making his debut just last season, has already been included in Singapore’s senior national squad, being picked by Tatsuma Yoshida to travel with the Lions to face Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan in World Cup Qualifying.

Farhan burst onto the scene in June last year, when he netted a superb debut goal against SPL giants Home United at Bishan Stadium. The versatile midfielder has gone from strength to strength since, making a further 11 appearances for Hougang in 2019 and starting both their SPL opener and the Community Shield game in 2020. Having recently been called up again for centralised training with the national team, Farhan could be set to become a key cog for both club and country this campaign.

4. Hakeme Yazid Said (16 years, 175 days)

Next up is Bruneian sensation Hakeme Said, who made his league debut in the 2019 season. Promoted to the Brunei DPMM first team by Adrian Pennock in the second half of last season, Hakeme made his bow against Geylang International on 2 August. He wouldn’t have to wait long for his first goal, winning the ball deep in the Eagles’ half and netting the first of three for DPMM on the day. A quite spectacular debut for the youngster.

Having already made five appearances for Brunei’s U-23 team aged just 17, including appearances at last year’s SEA Games, Hakeme looks set to break into the first team both for them and DPMM sooner, rather than later. Exciting times ahead for the Bruneian football community.

3. Hariss Harun (16 years 110 days)

A household name who requires no introduction, current Singapore captain Hariss Harun made his S.League bow in March 2007, starting for the Young Lions against Liaoning Guangyuan. A testament to his immense ability as a teenager, Hariss was Singapore’s winner of Nike’s “Who’s The Next” contest, securing a training stint at FC Barcelona’s La Masia academy. The young midfielder captained a side consisting of players from across Asia Pacific in three friendly matches against Barcelona youth sides, eventually returning home with the prestigious MVP award.

Following a training stint with Chinese Super League giants Shanghai Shenhua and a hugely successful two-year spell with Lions XII, Hariss eventually signed for Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta’zim. Now in his 7th season at the club, the Singapore international captains the side, and has lifted five Malaysia Super League titles, two domestic cups and the AFC Cup. These days, Hariss can be found gracing pitches in China and Japan in the AFC Champions League, having recently shared a pitch with football legend Andres Iniesta in JDT’s clash with Vissel Kobe.

FAS

2. Zikos Chua (16 years 80 days)

Coming in second on the list is another Geylang player, this time in the form of Singaporean-Greek striker Zikos Basil Vasileios Chua. Zikos made his debut for Geylang against the Young Lions in July 2018, and it was against the same team that he would net his first goal just under a year later. Latching on to a Christopher Van Huizen cross, Chua pounced quickest to slide the winner home past the despairing dive of Kenji Rusydi.

It was no fluke. In the months that followed, Chua went on to score four more league goals, taking his tally to five in 13 games, a very respectable return. Unfortunately, just as his career looked set to take off, he was hit with a gruesome ACL injury while playing for Singapore at the AFF U18 Championship in August. The injury ruled him out for the remainder of the 2019 season, and with Chua not included in Geylang’s squad against Albirex last weekend, it could be a while yet before we witness his return. It is hoped that the striker will return to action sooner rather than later, as the local football fraternity eagerly awaits the comeback of one of Singapore’s brightest young talents.

FAS

1. Khairin Nadim (15 years and 298 days)

Finally, the youngest player to ever make an appearance in the Singapore top flight is the Young Lions’ nippy frontman, Khairin Nadim. Having come on as a substitute against Hougang on Sunday, the striker became the first ever player below the age of 16 to play in the league.

Long regarded as a special talent, young Khairin first shot to prominence when he scored a brilliant individual goal against North Korea at last year’s AFC Under-16 Championship 2020 Qualifiers, having also scored against Hong Kong in the same tournament. With maturity beyond his years and a good eye for goal, it is widely believed that he could have what it takes to become a crucial player for the National Team in years to come. In what could be a hugely important season for him, Young Lions coach Nazri Nasir has pledged to give him his chance to shine, alongside a hugely talented crop of young Singapore players.